Bike Talk - A radio show dedicated to the idea that for public and planetary health we need to prioritize public transportation by bikes

Latest Episode

Bikeable Nation (repeat, with new bike thought)

September 6, 2024

Last year’s Tour de Vuelta coverage, featuring Sepp Kuss
2:45

Brake maintenance advice from fixie rider, activist, and Los Angeles Metro Bikeshare mechanic Anne Marie Drolet.
3:19

Jeff Speck, author of “Suburban Nation” and “Walkable Cities,” on making cities walkable and bikeable. With Taylor Nichols.
7:50

Getting the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to mandate Bicyclist Emergency Braking in deadly autonomous vehicles. With Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American Bicyclists, interviewed by Taylor Nichols.
38:41

Stacey’s new Bike Thought
54:42

AVs, bikeable, diybike, urban, walkable
Civil Obedience, Phantom Bikes, White Shoes, and Carfree Streets in Canada

August 30, 2024

Taylor decides on a new gravel bike.

Winnipeg cyclists stage an act of civil disobedience, stopping legally in single file at a stop sign, to bring awareness of the need for a stop-as-yield policy or “Idaho Stop Law” for cyclists. With Patty Wiens, “Bicycle Mayor” of Winnipeg, and Hillary Rosentretter.
4:02

We talk to our lawyer, Jim Pocrass of Pocrass de Los Reyes in Los Angeles, about whether it’s legal to ride two abreast in a lane.
16:55

News: Los Angeles will be car-free for the next Olympic Games, they say. Also, fewer 19 year olds are getting driver’s licenses, according to the most recent data from the Federal Highway Administration.
24:26

A listener, Kevin Grishkot, writes that “training and testing and standards set for the basic car license are criminally negligent.”
28:27

A tour of Montreal’s express bike lanes, called Réseau Express Vélo, and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, “the best bike neighborhood in North America,” as well as some insight into the Canadian city’s bike connection with France, by Martin Hamel of Coalition Mobilité Active Montréal.
31:00

Stacey’s Bike Thought
55:48

bikecity, canada, carfreeolympics, civilobedience, idahostop, montreal, twoabreast, winnipeg
CicLAvia, Hollywood Bike Lane, Detroit Bike Ped Conference, UK Infrastructure & Politics

August 22, 2024

Taylor and Anne Marie saw their neighborhoods at human speed in Sunday’s CicLAvia in Los Angeles. “Meet the Hollywoods” opened 7 miles to people, not cars, from East to West Hollywood.

Anne Marie discovers Fan Girl, a women musicians themed café.
1:13

Taylor nervously rides Luke’s Penny Farthing far.
1:52

Vanessa, Ryan, and Victor share their favorite things about CicLAvia with Anne Marie.
5:38

The Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts reopens its bankrupt bikeshare with a new operator. A report from Carolyn Misch, Northampton’s Director of Planning & Sustainability.
9:09

Taylor reports back from West Hollywood’s Mobility Forum.
11:28

Taylor rides Hollywood Boulevard’s brand new protected bike lane with Damien Kevitt, Founder and ED of Streets Are For Everyone, and Mehmet Berker, Transportation Deputy for LA Council District 4.
12:12

Kendra Ramsey, Executive Director of the California Bicycle Coalition, on last week’s Association of Pedestrian and Biking Professionals in Detroit.
16:45

When Driving is Not An Option: Detroit car-free bike mom Christina Dubose interviews Anna Zivarts, Director of Disability Rights Washington’s Disability Mobility Initiative Program and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency.
23:19

Bike Rodeos are for everyone: Christina interviews Safe Routes to School Coordinator for the City of Palo Alto Rose Mesterhazy.
30:01

More on the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals with Kendra Ramsey, APBP Board President.
34:51

Vehicular cycling, protected intersections, sensible driving, and the politics of active transportation in the UK with Carlton Reid, journalist and The Spokesmen podcaster. Carlton joins us from his 4,500 mile ride around Great Britain.
38:57

Stacey’s Bike Thought
56:50

apbp, bikerodeo, bikingisaright, ciclavia, disability, mobility, openstreets, pennyfarthing
Bike Hate, Culture Wars, Ebike Incentives, Beach Cruisin’

August 15, 2024

Anne Marie’s bike trip to Universal Studios, Taylor’s mountain trip, and Bikelash news.

An unhinged speaker’s threat to harass cyclists at a Glendale, Ca. City Council meeting could be used against him in court, say attorney Jim Pocrass and Kirsten Bladh, Streets For All’s Associate Director of State Policy, who posted the tweet that named the hater.
16:02

A report by Circulate San Diego finds that the California Coastal Commission opposes bike lanes to the beach and affordable housing. It’s their idea of “access,” says Colin Parent, Executive Director of Circulate San Diego.
29:06

“What the Heck Is Going on with the State E-bike Incentive Program?” asks California Streetsblog Editor Melanie Curry.
40:45

Stacey’s Bike Thought
55:53

ageism, bikelockers, bikeolympics, coastalaccess, culturewars, cyclistharassment, ebikes, progressive, velodrome
Car Cost, Olympic Biking, The White Line and Road Bike Advocacy

August 9, 2024

A parking ticket sets off another discussion about the cost of cars.
0:16

Monterey, California Trolley driver Tim Riley writes about subsidized transit, and how bikers can go from Salinas to Monterey Bay for $2 round trip.
7:23

Biking in the Olympics – track, MTB, the works.
11:48

When rising bike race star Magnus White was killed by a drowsy driver, his parents, Jill and Michael White, started The White Line Foundation to make roads safer and change the sentencing laws for vehicular homicide.
14:09

Is there truth to the stereotype that people who ride for sport aren’t involved in advocacy? Taylor finds out in a talk with Los Angeles’ Velo Club Lagrange board member Marco Fantone.
38:27

carcosts, olympicbikes, RoadAdvocacy, TheWhiteLine, transitsubsidies
Car Sinks, Vehicular Cycling, Blocked Lanes, Gravel Bikes, and World Naked Protest Rides

August 2, 2024

Taylor pays $1200 for his car’s damper pulley, which leads to a discussion of how cars are money sinks and we need universal mobility.
0:23

A listener email from Berkeley resident Benjamin Fry rekindles a debate on “vehicular cycling.”
6:20

Vehicular Cycling is part of the history of bike education. The Advocacy Director of Bike East Bay, Robert Printz, lays it down. Also, how Oakland unblocks bike lanes.
8:35

What gravel bike to buy, and where to ride gravel. A conversation with Taylor, who’s thinking of buying a gravel bike, and veteran bike advocate and founder of Gravel Bike California, Zachary Rynew.
22:23

Taylor talks to author Steve Hunt about the article Naked Protest and Radical Cycling: A History of the Journey to the World Naked Bike Ride.
38:30

Stacey’s Bike Thought
57:10

blockedbikelanes, carscost, gravelbike, vehicularcycling, WNBR
Suing Cities for Blocking Bike Lanes, Bike Philosophy, and Project 2025’s Bike/Ped Plans

July 26, 2024

Taylor’s Colorado bike trip included electronic shifting; also, practicing bike salutes.

Can we sue cities over blocked bike lanes? Attorney James Pocrass answers in his Legal Moment.
6:54

What’s more philosophical, road biking or commuting? Nick comes to Jesus Ilundáin, co-editor of Cycling: Philosophy for Everyone, for a tour of the mind.
17:10

The Conservative Heritage Foundation’s outline for a Trump presidency, Project 2025, would mean no federal money at all for bike/ped or transit projects. Caron Whitaker, Deputy Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists, reports.
35:26

How do we know Middle Aged Men In Lycra aren’t bike advocates? A listener asks, and it sends Taylor, Anne Marie, and Nick on a wild ride.
44:00

The Term Middle Aged Men In Lycra is both ageist and body shaming, Anne Marie concludes.
57:37

Bike Talk Stories, our Google Group and In Memoriam: George Christensen, Dr. Barbara Friedes, Jacob Ramirez, Rob Jenner
58:30

Stacey’s “Deep” Bike Thought
1:02:22

2025, advocacy, blockedlane, lawsuit, philosophy
Riding for Redemption, Community, and Strong Towns

July 19, 2024

Airing the grievances of bike haters can be an effective strategy as long as we’re not equally crazy, says Charles Marohn, Strong Towns founder, in our webinar “Podcasting for Bike Advocates.”
0:40

Biking ski slopes in summer, and other highlights of Taylor’s family trip to Colorado and Utah.
2:55

Andy May returned to cyclocross racing less than a year after losing a leg. He’s still riding and racing, and works for a company that makes prosthetics.
8:08

It’s hot. Especially in cities, because of the “heat island” effect.
22:53

Detroit’s huge weekly social ride, “Slow Roll,” is the closest thing to world peace, according to our correspondent and Slow Roll leader Reo.
25:58

LA’s All City Co-ops Ride connected LA’s major bike co-ops, Bicycle Kitchen, Bike Oven, and Bikerowave, as well as Bici Libre, Ride On, and LA Bike Academy. Interviews by Anne Marie with Bike Oven cook Joe Borfo and riders Anna, Vicente, and Ida.
26:54

A bit more about social rides.
37:32

Strong Towns’ new Northampton, Massachusetts chapter talks about getting bikeable, walkable streets and more “workforce” housing. With Danielle McKahn and Benjamin Spencer.
39:05

Stacey’s Bike Thought
55:58

collectives, socialrides, strength, survival
Bike Messagers

July 11, 2024

Gear Ratios Explained by Joe Lindsey and Anne Marie Drolet (advanced intermediate).

How the Tour de France inspires Taylor Nichols to draft behind strangers-and how they react.
6:03

The symbolism of a bicycle in your dreams, according to “Dreamapp.”
7:38

Two weeks into the Tour de France, and it’s one of the most interesting and competitive races in years, according to Joe Lindsey, bike writer.
10:53

Are high profile bike sports good for active transportation advocacy?
Also: wearing the MAMIL (Middle Age Men In Lycra) epithet as a badge.
29:30

Reframing the mainstream narrative around road safety, road violence and active transportation with Tom Flood.
35:39

Stacey’s Bike Thought
58:50

activetransportation, drafting, dreams, gears, mamil, messaging, tourdefrance
Let Freedom Ride

July 5, 2024

Let Freedom Ride
Anne Marie’s bike packing trip to Point Mugu State Park.

The inexplicable bike hate of James Clarke in Glendale, California balanced by defenders of mode choice and street safety, Glendale Councilmember Dan Brotman and California Assemblyperson Laura Friedman.

5:25

Upcoming group rides in Detroit with guest Reo Ramsey, President of Detroit’s Motown Trailblazerz ride.

29:10

The Grand Fundo in Western Massachusetts and The All City Co-op Ride in Los Angeles
32:27

Anne Marie’s audio from LA’s recent Critical Mass, with etymology of the name.
33:13

A Complete Streets Bill, SB 960, passed the California Assembly that would use highway money to facilitate biking and walking as choices along with driving in California. California Bike Coalition Policy Director Jared Sanchez gives the timelines and details of the bill.
37:35

Biniam Girmay became the first Black African rider and first Black cyclist from any continent to win a Tour de France stage.
40:35

John St. Angelo writes us an email about his 1,1750 mile ride from Kansas City To Bristol, RI for his 60th high school reunion.
45:04

A bike lane sweeper has been invented by Pierre Lermant that hooks up like a bike trailer to clear debris from bike lanes.
47:27

Stacey’s Bike Thought
57:40

bikelanesweeper, bikelash, bikepacking, co-oprides, completestreets, criticalmass, electeds, freedom, grandfundo, motown, rides, tourdefrance